Signaling device for automobiles



W. L. HEWES.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1920.

1,391,830. PatentedSept. 27,1921.

FIGLZI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. Hnwris, or srrtmerrnnn, MAS.snoizrusncrrs.

s eNAt Ne DEVICE Application filed July 124,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM ,L. Hnwns, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Springfield in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices for Automobiles, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention is to make it possible for the driver of an automobile or other vehicle to communicate to a traflic oificer at a street intersection, the direction in which he intends to proceed. With this end in View, I have devised a signaling device designed to be attached to the wind shield of an automobile, and which is capable of being set to indicate the direction intended to be traveled.

Among the advantages I attain by my invention are ease of attachment without necessitating the aid of any special securing means; simplicity of operation; cheapness of manufacture; and extreme durability in use.

Other advantages of my invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings, Figure I is a fragmentary elevation of the inside of a wind shield of an automobile with a convenient embodiment of my invention attached thereto, the slidable signaling member shown, being in its normal or neutral position.

Fig. II is a cross sectional view along the plane of the arrows II-II' in Fig. I; and I Fig. III is an illustration similar to Fig. I showing the signaling member in one of its shifted positions.

As herein represented, the device comprises a mounting plate 1 having at its ends perpendicular extensions 2, 2, which are'bent over at their tops as at 3, 3, to form straps by which the device may be hung in a horizontal position from the top edge of the lower section 4 of the wind shield of the automobile. In this location, it will be apparent that the device is conveniently accessible to the driver and may be readily seen through the glass of the wind shield by the traffic officer. On the back of the plate 1 is mounted a signaling member 5 which is slidably supported between a pair of cooperative central, integral tabs 6, 6, offset from the center of said plate 1 whereby it is 'ridged longitudinally as at FOR AUTOMOBILES;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedis t 27 1921 1920. Serial No. 398,718.

bothretained and guided. Said plate 1 and the, signaling member 5 are respectively 7, 8,. to afford a tongue and groove connection by which the signaling member is guided in'its motion. As shown, the member 5 has at its extremities arrowheads 9 and lO ad'apted to be selectlvely displayed beyond opposite ends of the mounting plate toindicate the intended direction of travel. The arrow heads 9, 10 are respectively formed with abrupt shoulders 11, 12, which engage alternatively with the corresponding side edges of the tabs 6, 6, to limit the motion of the signaling member when the latter is shifted either to the right or to the left, as the case may be. At its center, the signaling member 5 is provided with a finger grasp in the form of a pgirlsof outstanding punched projections In practice, it will be seen tliat when reaching a street intersection, the driver may readily communicate to the trafiic oflicer the direction in which he intends to proceed by simply shifting the signaling member either to the right or left, thereby displaying one or the other of the arrow heads beyond the corresponding end of the mounting plate 1. If the intention is to proceed straight ahead, the signaling member of the device is left in the normal or neutral position as shown in Fig. I.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a mounting plate with integral offset-tabs at the rear thereof, toward the driver, and a signaling member slidably supported between said tabs and having at its extremities arrow heads adapted to be selectively displayed beyond opposite ends of the mounting plate to indicate the intended direction of travel.

2. A device of the character described comprising a mounting plate, and a signaling member slidably supported at the rear of the mounting plate toward the driver and provided at its extremities with arrow heads adapted to be selectively displayed beyond opposite ends of the mounting plate to indicate the intended direction of travel, said plate and signaling member being ridged longitudinally to form a registering tongue comprising a mounting plate with a pair of integral retaining tabs ofiset at the center of its rear side, toward the driver, and a signal member slidably supported between said tabs and having at its ends arrow heads adapted to be selectively displayed beyond opposite ends of the mounting plate to indicate-the intended direction of travel, the extent of projection of the signaling member in either instance being limited by engagement of a shoulder of one of the other of the arrow heads with the corresponding side edges of the retaining tabs of the mounting plate.

at. A device of the character described comprising a mounting plate with means for mounting it at the rear of the wind shield of an automobile, toward the driver overhanging guide and retaining means outstanding rearward from said plate at the center thereof, and a signaling member at the rear of said plate slidable in said guide means so that either end thereof may be projected beyond the corresponding end of the plate to an extent limited by engagement of the other end thereof with said guide means.

5. A device of the character described comprising a mounting plate with means for mounting it at the rear of the wind shield of an automobile, toward the driver; guide and retaining tabs offset rearward from said plate at the center thereof; and a signaling member at the rear of said plate slidable between said tabs, and having a tongue and groove engagement with said plate for guiding it in its longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof, I havehereunto signed my name at Springfield, Massachusetts this 19th day of July, 1920.

WILLIAM L. HEWES. Witnesses:

- CARRIE J. PERRY,

JOHN A. HAMBERG. 

